Electrosurgical device with knife edge

Abstract

An electrosurgical device for treating tissue have a sharp forming a distal end thereof. The electrosurgical device can include two or more electrodes spaced from the sharp that can each reciprocate. Other arrangements for the two or more electrodes such as those that do not reciprocate but are held stator relative to the sharp are contemplated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A probe for an electrosurgical device for treating tissue, the probe comprising:
 a tip having a sharp at a distal most end thereof;   a first electrode adjacent the sharp on a first side thereof; and   a second electrode adjacent the sharp on a second side thereof, wherein the first electrode is spaced from the second electrode;   wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to reciprocate relative to the tip to selectively move between a first configuration where a distal end of first electrode is distal of the sharp and a distal end of the second electrode is proximal of the sharp and a second configuration where the distal end of the first electrode is proximal of the sharp and the distal end of the second electrode is distal of the sharp.   
     
     
         2 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the sharp comprises an edge and the tip includes a first distal face extending laterally and longitudinally from the edge and a second distal face extending laterally and longitudinally from the edge, wherein the first distal face includes a first aperture receiving the first electrode and the second distal face includes a second aperture receiving the second electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The probe of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first distal face or the second distal face includes at least a port configured for vacuum aspiration of fluid including tissue debris from adjacent the tip. 
     
     
         4 . The probe of  claim 3 , further comprising an elongate outer shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and defining one or more passages extending therein from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the tip is coupled to or forms the distal end of the outer shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The probe of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the one or more passages is in fluid communication with the port. 
     
     
         6 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is spaced from the second electrode by between 0.02 inches and 0.08 inches, inclusive. 
     
     
         7 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the tip is an electrically non-conductive material. 
     
     
         8 . The probe of  claim 7 , wherein the tip is a ceramic or ceramic composite and wherein the sharp is one of an edge or point. 
     
     
         9 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are tungsten or an alloy containing tungsten. 
     
     
         10 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode have a diameter of between 0.01 inches and 0.02 inches, inclusive. 
     
     
         11 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the first electrode and the second electrode is moved distal of the sharp by between 0.001 inches and 0.25 inches, inclusive. 
     
     
         12 . The probe of  claim 1 , further comprising an illumination device adjacent the tip. 
     
     
         13 . The probe of  claim 1 , further comprising a cam mechanism and a linkage arm, wherein the cam mechanism is coupled to one of the first electrode and the second electrode and the linkage arm is coupled to both the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         14 . The probe of  claim 13 , wherein the cam mechanism includes a surface with undulations. 
     
     
         15 . The probe of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle, wherein the probe is configured to couple with the handle. 
     
     
         16 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the probe is configured with an electrosurgical coagulation mode that halts reciprocation of the first electrode and the second electrode and positions the first electrode and the second electrode in a substantially stationary arrangement adjacent the sharp. 
     
     
         17 . The probe of  claim 16 , wherein in the electrosurgical coagulation mode a distal end of the first electrode and a distal end of the second electrode are substantially flush with a tip of the sharp. 
     
     
         18 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the reciprocation of the first electrode and the second electrode is between 1,000 RPM to 30,000 RPM, inclusive. 
     
     
         19 . The probe of  claim 1 , the first electrode serves as a first polarity electrode and the second electrode serves as a second polarity electrode of a bipolar electrode pair, wherein the probe is configured for electrosurgical resection and electrosurgical coagulation of the tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The probe of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is in selective contact with the tissue at any point during the treating of the tissue.